By Michael Carman
Peninsula Daily News
PORT ANGELES — Sequim senior wide receiver/defensive back/kick returner Gavin Velarde and junior quarterback Riley Cowan headline the area products on the Olympic League 2A Division All-League Football Team.
Velarde capped a stellar career with the Wolves by catching a team-high 39 passes for 652 yards and eight touchdowns.
His career varsity totals are 135 catches for 2,331 yards and 28 TD receptions and 125 carries for 778 yards and 14 TDs.
Velarde also returned seven kickoffs, five interceptions and one punt for scores in his four seasons in purple and gold.
Cowan was selected first-team all-league quarterback for the second straight season after throwing for 1,611 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Johnnie Young earned two nods for Sequim — the junior was a first-team defense selection at linebacker and a second-team pick on the offensive line.
Wolves kicker Byron Rice also was a first-team pick. He connected on all three field goal tries he attempted with a long of 34 yards, and was 12 of 15 on extra points.
Sequim had two other players earned second-team defense honors: junior defensive lineman Ben Cowan and freshman linebacker Taig Wiker.
Port Angeles junior Garrett Edwards was a second-team pick at wide receiver and in the secondary for the improved Roughriders.
Sophomore offensive lineman Cole Walsh and senior linebacker Bailey White also were named to the second team for Port Angeles.
North Kitsap senior Ryan Brooks was named Olympic League 2A most valuable player.
Brooks, a 6-foot-2, 240-pound offensive/defensive lineman, lead North Kitsap in tackles (80) and tackles for loss (23) and is second in sacks with four.
North Kitsap senior running back Dax Solis earned offensive MVP honors. Solis has rushed for a school-record 1,606 yards and has scored 30 total touchdowns.
Defensive MVP honors went to North Kitsap senior middle linebacker Connor Westby, who has 74 tackles and a team-leading 9.5 sacks.
First team offense
Quarterback—Riley Cowan, jr., Sequim. Running back—Sema’j Cook, sr., Bremerton; Dylan Tupolo, jr., North Mason. Wide receiver—Gavin Velarde, sr., Sequim; Darelle White, jr., Olympic. Tight end—Aidan Allsop, sr., North Kitsap. Offensive line—Connor Ryan, sr., North Kitsap; Jordin Austin, sr., North Kitsap; Anthony Shadle, sr., Bremerton; Brian Ferguson, sr., Olympic; Robbie Shipp, jr., North Kitsap.
Second team offense
Quarterback—Andrew Blackmore, jr., North Kitsap; Running back—Tyler Thomas, sr., North Mason; Rasheed Joiner, jr., Bremerton. Wide receiver—Garrett Edwards, jr., Port Angeles; Kai Warren, sr., North Kitsap. Tight end—Troy Saunders, sr., Bremerton. Offensive line—Johnnie Young, jr,. Sequim; Cole Walsh, so., Port Angeles; Max Davis, sr., Bremerton; Garrett Sitting Dog, so., Kingston; Wylee Rice, jr., North Mason.
First team defense
Defensive line—Suma Tupolo, sr., North Mason; Kyle Green, jr., North Kitsap; Michael Barber, sr., Bremerton; Taleeke Davis, sr., Olympic. Linebacker—Dylan Tupolo, jr., North Mason; Aidan Allsop, jr., North Kitsap; McCoy Retome, jr., Bremerton; Tyler Sloman, sr., North Kitsap; Johnnie Young, jr., Sequim. Secondary—Gavin Velarde, sr., Sequim; Kai Warren, sr., North Kitsap; Ryan Saylor, jr., Bremerton; Darelle White, jr., Olympic.
Second team defense
Defensive line—Ben Cowan, jr., Sequim; Connor Ryan, sr., North Kitsap; Troy Saunders, sr., Bremerton; Adam Charles, sr., Kingston. Linebacker—Mario Nanez, jr., North Mason; Taig Wiker, fr., Sequim; Noah North, jr., North Kitsap; Bailey White, sr., Port Angeles; Enrique Lopez, sr., Bremerton. Secondary—Reese Smelcer, so., North Mason; Josh Stackhouse, sr., North Kitsap; Garrett Edwards, jr., Port Angeles; Taylor Andrews, so., Olympic.
First team special teams
Kicker—Byron Rice, sr., Sequim. Punter—Max Boekenoogen, sr., Bremerton. Kick returner—Gavin Velarde, sr., Sequim. Long snapper—Darrian Carrier, sr., Olympic.
Second team special teams
Kicker—Tainui Elkington, sr., North Kitsap. Punter—Dax Solis, sr., North Kitsap. Kick returner—Darelle White, jr., Olympic. Long snapper—Connor Westby, sr., North Kitsap.
